After months of hectic preparation with endless checklists, the couple finally exchanged their vows and rings, and sealed their matrimony with a kiss. Now the real adventure begins: the honeymoon.
With a giddy mix of old-school and hip, Thailand makes a romantic celebration magical with spectacular scenery, a wide range of activities, friendly people, and excellent money value.
Thailand was selected as one of the top ten honeymoon destinations for 2020 by “WeddingWire,” the largest and most trusted global marketplace connecting engaged couples with a local wedding professional. Exotic and alluring, the kingdom is truly at the heart of romance and honeymoon travel. It was also named Best Honeymoon Destination in 2021 for the second year in a row by Travel + Leisure India.
Blessed with hundreds of romantic destinations, the country is ideal for couples, honeymooners, or married partners on a ‘recapture the passion’ anniversary sojourn.
You can find total serenity on far-flung tropical beaches, island hops in the Andaman Sea, or immerse in a culture-infused discovery. Thailand offers the honeymooners an opportunity to spend longer exploring new terrains together as a couple. While anytime is the perfect time to honeymoon in Thailand, the cooler season from November to April offers perfect weather for every couple to enjoy.
Thailand, with world-class attractions and services, fits perfectly as a honeymoon destination and romantic getaway. The newlyweds will want to head back every year to celebrate their anniversary.
THAILAND’S 10 BEST HONEYMOON HOTELS
What makes a hotel honeymoon-worthy? For some couples, it is about breathtaking views. For others, it is all about luxury. Various hotels offer honeymoon packages aimed to make the most memorable time for the lovebirds, including chilled champagne on arrival, a romantic bubble bath for two, rose petals on the bed, a box of chocolate, and a private candle-lit dinner. Lovely turn-down service and breakfast in bed are often offered through the honeymoon package.
There is a growing number of newlyweds that aim at adventure and perfect thrills over pampering relaxation. Whether the honeymooners are after a low-key island escape or sleeping out in the tent—or something else entirely—Thailand has it all.
THE BARAI
Honeymooners cannot go wrong with The Barai. Located in Hua Hin, Thailand’s classy beach holiday destination, the award-winning spa resort is a replica of an ancient Khmer temple complex. The entire spa gives an ancient civilization ambiance to achieve physical relaxation and spiritual uplift following their big romantic moment.
The Barai Pool Suite, with a private plunge pool, spa treatment area, and dining area, is a beautiful honeymooner choice. To book your stay at The Barai, please visit their homepage, give them a call at +66 3 251 or email them at TheBarai.hrhuahin@hyatt.com.
SIX SENSES YAO NOI
If the way to the lover’s heart is through the eyes, check into Ocean Panorama Pool Villa at Six Senses Yao Noi in Phang Nga Bay. With a terrace for lounging and a private pool, the newlyweds can enjoy old-fashioned romances while gazing out over Phang Nga Bay and soaking up the sunset. The iconic limestone peaks rising from Phang Nga Bay’s waters make a surreal backdrop and a sense of privacy and adventure.
The lovebirds can choose their favorite time of day for the castaway experience. Enjoy a sunrise breakfast cruise and sail to a secluded island for a barbecue lunch prepared by a personal chef. Cherish the intimate sundowner as the sun dips over the horizon viewed from your private island. To book, please visit their website, call +66 76 41 8500, or email for reservations at reservations-yaonoi@sixsenses.com.
W RETREAT KOH SAMUI
On a small cape jutting out into the sea, honeymooners can see beaches stretching on the river’s shores to the west and Bo Phut Beach to the east. A bit farther away is Pha-ngan Island rising above the blue sea. Here you will find W Retreat Koh Samui. There is a consistent vein of modern design in the villas, restaurants, and spa.
By day, soak up some rays and refuel with enticing light bites and refreshing drinks at WOOBAR, the iconic Koh Samui bar with a 270-degree infinity ocean view. When night comes, the bar comes alive with technicolored lighting and remix beats. The light and sounds encourage honeymooners to make the most of the beautiful ambiance. The W Retreat Koh Samui can be contacted through their website, via telephone at +66 77 915 999, or via email at whateverwhenever.wkohsamui@whotels.com.
SONEVA KIRI
Imagine the newlyweds boarding a private aircraft from Bangkok and land on the under-the-radar airstrip of Kood Island in Thailand’s East. The lovers will whisk across the secluded crescent bay before slipping into their private pool villa.
Billed as “intelligent luxury,” Soneva Kiri is crafted with recycled wood and surrounded by lush jungle and forest. In some ways, this rustic-yet-luxurious resort is for the Robinson Crusoe of this world. It has 36 thatched villas, each with a private infinity pool, sundeck, and a lavish indoor-outdoor bathroom. Soneva Kiri is ideal for a lost-in-time honeymoon. To learn more, please visit them on the web, call them at +66 39 61 9800 or +66 82 208 8888, or email reservations@soneva.com.
ANANTARA GOLDEN TRIANGLE ELEPHANT CAMP & RESORT
Nestled in a dense grove of trees, the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort is tucked away in the Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai. The resort’s famed on-site elephant camp, designed as a traditional mahout village, offers honeymooners unique opportunities to get up close with the gentle giants. Being close to the elephant is a life-changing experience. When the lovers are not out walking and spending time with the pachyderm, they can learn how to cook at Spice Spoons by Anantara Cooking School.
For an extra dose of honeymoon magic, spend an unforgettable night observing the elephants in their natural habitat from the comfort of the fully furnished, transparent Jungle Bubble. The luxurious bubble perches on a wooden deck above the forest. It offers uninterrupted views of the elephants under the stunning starlit sky. Please visit the Antara Golden Triange Elephant Camp and Resort at their website, call them at +66 2 365 9110, or contact them via email at reserveantara@antara.com.
THE NAKA PHUKET
Hidden on Phuket’s western edge, The Naka Phuket has 95 glass-built villas cantilevering out from the mountainside. A spacious outdoor pool attached to each of the secluded living spaces offers the couples all the privacy they need. The rooftop spa overlooks the forest and the deep blue sea and is a place to enjoy soothing body scrubs and massages. Dive into the blissful relaxation while the cicadas provide the spellbinding soundtrack.
The newly-weds can unwind in the hotel’s Olympic-sized infinity pool or feel the powder-fine sand between their toes on the wave-lapped private beach.
There is a sense of being wrapped in a secret valley while lazing in and around the hotel. Privacy and serenity are well-guaranteed, but Phuket City is only 20-minutes away by car for those seeking a sense of discovery. To schedule your stay, please visit their website, or call +66 76 337 999.
FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP GOLDEN TRIANGLE
Hidden in the jungle in the famous Golden Triangle, the Four Seasons sits right on the border of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar in Chiang Rai. Only accessible by private boat, it is a luxury tented camp conceived around a 19th-century safari-adventure theme. There are handcrafted leather furnishings, hardwood floors, mosquito nettings, and hurricane lamps. A vintage military jeep, used to ferry guests around the property, completes the hotel’s old school ambiance.
For a romantic evening, settle into an overstuffed leather couch at Burma Bar and sip your favorite drink while taking in the lush Ruak River basin and Elephant Camp views. Enjoy a daily tasting session at Wine Cellar and indulge in a private wine-pairing dinner to celebrate your special event. Call it a day and slip into the hand-hammered bathtub, a perfect fit for two. To book your honeymoon at The Four Seasons, please visit their website, or call the hotel at +66 53 910 200.
ZEAVOLA RESORT & SPA
The Zeavola is a boutique hotel on Phi Phi Don Island that nestles between Phuket and Thailand’s western coast. It is a place where you don’t bother packing shoes. The resort, with 53 romantic teak villas, is the ultimate in barefoot luxury.
A picture-perfect tropical island is pleasant with the powdery white sand, swaying palm trees, and clear warm waters. The pace of life is as chilled as a margarita shaken with ice. The couple can dine by moonlight on an intimate beach platform by the sea. Reservations can be made by visiting the website, calling +66 75 627 000, or emailing reservation@zeavola.com.
KEEMALA BIRD’S NEST POOL VILLAS
Secluded under a forest canopy in Phuket with the Andaman Sea wavering on the horizon, Keemala Bird’s Nest Pool Villas in Kamala, Kathu, Phuket has thatched pods suspended in the jungle.
Rustic as it is stylish—the villa has a pool, super-king-size bed, and terrace, as well as a bathroom with a rain shower and freestanding bathtub with a view. True to its name, Keemala Bird’s Nest Pool Villas is a perfect “love nest.” To learn more about this quaint lovers getaway, please visit their website here, or call +66 76 358 777. The Keemala Bird’s Next Pool Villas can also be reached via email at stay@keemala.com.
SILVADEE RESORT
Built on the edge of a cliff overlooking Laem Nan Beach in Koh Samui, the Sawadee boasts 80 villas and a spectacular infinity pool. The resort also has a luxurious spa, and a lovely beach tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the touristy areas of Koh Samui. Still, it is close enough to the excitement of Koh Samui that excursions to the bustling areas of the island are popular day trips. To learn more about the Silvadee Resort, please visit the Silvadee Resort Websit, call +66(0)77-960-555, or email reservations@silvadeeresort.com.
Honeymoon activities for the newlyweds
A magical honeymoon retreat might conjure up a private pool villa suite, plunging into an infinity pool, and gazing into the sunset with an umbrella drink in hand, but some couples might choose a different option. To build a stronger bond, adventurous souls may wish to do new adrenaline-pumping activities together. Foodie couples may spice up their love life while exploring the hot and spicy Thai food.
Thailand has endless activities to offer honeymooners so they can personally craft memories of a lifetime.
SCUBA DIVING
Explore the world of coral gardens, flapping sea turtles, schools of colorful fish of all shapes and sizes, graceful manta rays, and whale sharks. Breathing underwater and immersing in the deep blue is a rush. The built-in boat trip makes this activity a two-in-one win. Sign up for the last trip of the day and get a free sunset cruise back to the hotel.
The non-scuba-certified newlyweds can take the PADI e-learning course and do the pool dives at home before their wedding. They then complete the open-water diver certification at their honeymoon destination. Dive Infinity can be contacted via website, by telephone at +66 98 767 48 32, or via email at scubabangkok@gmail.com.
Other diving experiences include Dive Point Samui, which can be reached via their website, by telephone at +66 76 384 285 or via email at info@divepoint-samui.com. For those visiting Phuket, an excellent option is Sea Bees Diving, which can be reached via their website, by telephone at +66 76 381 765, or by email at info@sea-bees.com.
COOKING: Bringing the flavor of honeymoon home
The beach may bring the newlyweds to Thailand, but it is the food that lures them back—or makes the couple search for Thai recipes when they return home. Like the newlyweds themselves, Thai food is hot and sensational. The cuisine has a perfect combination of sweetness, tanginess, and—of course—spiciness.
Many beach resorts offer cooking classes tailored to couples. The chef will take the lovebirds to the local market and teach them how to get fresh ingredients. Don the aprons, get into the kitchen, and learn the chef’s secrets to prepare iconic Thai food. Some hotels also give a recipe booklet so the newlyweds can recreate their honeymoon taste once they get back home.
COUPLE SPA: Releasing wedding tension
A couple spa might sound cliché, but it is a must for newlyweds. After months of hectic wedding preparation, many couples may not have much time to be alone without stressing out. Being fully engaged together in this activity can help couples stay connected.
Moreover, Thai spas and massage are second to none. The couple can reserve a private treatment room or get pampered at their villa. Honeymooners can then unwind and indulge with their other half. Massages are one of the great ways to relieve stress and tension from the wedding day.
Check with your hotel for spa service options!
DEEP-WATER SOLO CLIMBING – Adding thrill to honeymoon retreat
If you and your partner are into more grand adventures than couple massages, deep-water solo climbing might be the answer. It’s rock climbing with no rope ended by jumping into the ocean below.
Deep-water soloing is the most dramatic, scenic, and sexiest way to climb. As the turquoise sea is the climber’s net, the newlyweds can push themselves to new heights. The honeymooner can swim, tan, and relax on the boat between climbs for a day that’s got it all.
Two excellent deep water solo diving excursions include Basecamp Tonsai in Mueang Krabi District, which can be reached via web, telephone at +66 8 1149 9745, and via email at elke@tonsaibasecamp.com. Railay in Railay Beach is another option which can be visited via web, telephone at +66 8 1149 9745, or email at info@railay.com.
KAYAKING
Kayaking is available almost anywhere with water, but it does not have to be a mainstream experience. For a more adventurous honeymoon, paddle to a secluded beach or a peaceful river branch for extra thrills and privacy.
Pack some fruits like strawberries, melons or oranges, and a bottle of sparkling wine for a shoreside or floating picnic.
Kayaking options are found all over Thailand. Bluestars Kayaking in the Gulf of Thailand, can be reached via their website, by telephone at +66 (0)77-300-615 or +66(0)8-7886-6097, or via their email at info@bluestars.info. For those visiting Phuket, John Gray Sea Canoe won’t disappoint. You can reach them by visiting their website, calling +66 76 254 505, or emailing them at info@johngray-seacanoe.com.
Another Phuket option is Andaman Sea Kayak in Muang, which can be reached via their website, via telephone at +66 76 235 353, or +66 76 235 098 or via email at andamanseakayak@yahoo.com. Finally, Paddle Asia located in Ban Kuku can be reached via their website, via telephone at +66 81 8936558 (English), +66 81 7974855 (Thai), or by email at paddleasia@gmail.com.
